Vince Staples: Big Fish Theory (2LP) [DEF JAM]

Why you'll love it

This EU-pressed 2LP set spreads the album over four sides. Big Fish Theory drew widespread critical acclaim, debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 and gave Staples three singles in "BagBak," "Big Fish" and "Rain Come Down."

This edition

• 2LP set
• Pressed in the EU

About the album

Most rappers who go looking for new sounds head for the soul crates. Vince Staples went to Detroit techno, UK garage and house, and came back from Long Beach with an album that sounds like a club at two in the morning with the lights flickering.

Zack Sekoff, whom Staples met through his DJ Westside Ty, produced five songs after a semester in London soaking up Burial, James Blake and Wiley, and the credits add Sophie, Flume, Jimmy Edgar, GTA and Justin Vernon. Kendrick Lamar trades verses on "Yeah Right," and the guest list runs to Damon Albarn, Juicy J, Ty Dolla Sign, A$AP Rocky, Kilo Kish and Ray J. "Crabs in a Bucket" opens on wind and pulse, "Big Fish" has a hook built for summer, "745" glides, and "Rain Come Down" closes with a storm.

He took it on the road as the Life Aquatic Tour through Canada and the United States, and its sound still echoes through rap's more adventurous corners. It's a dance record you can think to, or a think piece you can dance to, depending on how the evening's going.

Also at Kops: more Vince Staples on vinyl · browse Hip Hop / R&B

Tracklist

Listen

On Def Jam / Blacksmith, the 2017 album.